We’ve got eight Shakespeare-themed holiday gift ideas for you, selected from the Folger Shop. Most of them are less than $30 and several are less than $15, and all have a bit of William Shakespeare to make the holidays merry. Find something for your friends, your family members, or yourself. And if you would like more ideas, see our five present picks from last year and our nine present picks from the year before.
Member Holiday Shopping Days: Folger members can enjoy a special 20% discount (double the 10% member discount that they enjoy the rest of the year) on Saturday, December 8, and Sunday, December 9, in the Folger Shop, open noon to 5pm both days, or shop online 24/7.
1. Beaucoup books
The Folger Shop has many Shakespeare-related books, but to start you off, here are some pop-cultural volumes to consider: Pop Sonnets (in which Erik Didriksen reimagines songs by Taylor Swift, the Beatles, and many others as Shakespearean “pop sonnets”), Two Gentlemen of Lebowski (in which Adam Bertocci combines Shakespeare’s style and The Great Lebowski), and William Shakespeare’s Star Wars trilogy (in which Ian Doescher recounts the original Star Wars trilogy in Shakespearean language).
2. Bard-style bath accessories
Splish splash! Try Shakespeare’s Bard of Soap or one of our favorites, the Shakespeare bath duck (posing the question, “to quack or not to quack”), for those who enjoy luxurious yet literary baths.
3. ‘Exit, Pursued by a Bear’ tote bag
The line from The Winter’s Tale on this “Exit, Pursued by a Bear” tote bag is one of the most famous stage directions in all of theater—and suggests an intriguing way to depart from any holiday social event.
4. An insult a day…
Perhaps there’s no better way to get through one’s ordinary routine than a handy calendar of Shakespearean insults—doled out one a day.
5. ‘Churchill’s Shakespeare’ mug
A Churchill’s Shakespeare mug to commemorate the Folger’s current exhibition brings together Winston Churchill, William Shakespeare… and room for a tasty hot drink.
6. ‘Seven Ages of Man’ ornaments
Choose one of these stained-glass ornaments for a special someone or select different figures for different members of your family. Each one is from the Seven Ages of Man window at the Folger Shakespeare Library. The shop has the lover, the soldier, and the justice, as well as the infant, on his mother’s knee, too.
7. A touch of jewelry
Add a touch of jewelry with the comedy and tragedy charm, a theatrical favorite, or this romantic necklace, which quotes the first line from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night: “If music be the food of love, play on.”
8. A choice of Shakespeare busts
Our bronze-toned or ivory-toned Shakespeare busts are hand-cast, hand-finished… and a nice complement to any Shakespeare admirer’s decor.
And here is a bonus idea:
Give a Gift Certificate
Share the Folger this holiday season! You can choose any dollar amount and these gift certificates are good for any Folger program tickets, including Folger Theatre, Folger Consort, O.B. Hardison Poetry Series, talks, screenings, and any other special events.
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Comments
I strongly recommend the Shakespeare Bath Duck. I picked one up at the Globe Theatre in London as a gift for my 3-year-old nephew. He won’t take a bath without it. A fun way to subtly introduce him to Shakespeare.
Paul Whealon — November 29, 2019